A lot of this is obvious…just being meticulous:
Unless there’s a dramatic unforseeable change, it’s gotta include Quinn, Langford, Brockers, Long, and Hayes. So that’s 5.
They extended Sims (he’s one of the 4 pre-Fisher Rams they have extended and/or re-signed already). So unless someone jumps out ahead of him, which I kinda doubt would happen, he’s in.
You have to figure it’s similar to that with Carrington. Unless he falters, he;s in. Though oddly the official site roster lists him as a DE.
Donald is obvious.
So that’s 3 more, for 8.
They kept 9 last year. And I don’t think a Fisher/Wauffle coached defensive line prospect makes it through waivers to the practice squad. They rotate 4 at end, and if you rotate 4 you have to have 5, or you’re one injury away from rotating 3.
And if you look back at the sacks for Wms. coached teams, he uses every DL on the roster, so if anything, the rotation part of it is likely to increase under Wms not decrease. So since they probably can’t get DE #5 on to the practice squad, that probably means they need 5 DEs on the roster.
There’s a couple of other DTs too of course so technically they belong on the list of players competing for spot #9.
The competition for spot #9:
Brown (Sammy) (was the 9th last year after they lost Rivers)
Conrath
Harlan (2014 UDFA)
Sam
Westbrooks
So that’s 13 (as of right now), with 5 competing for spot #9.
Everyone knows about Sam. Westbrooks gets a lot of great buzz too. Personally I think in terms of just pure talent, he edges Sam. But you never know how they are in pads in the pros, until it happens.